I received a copy of this book as part of a giveaway.

I thoroughly enjoyed it! The art is charming, and the pacing is great. The book follows a group of high school friends through their senior year and their individual struggles and as they try to spend time together despite their different extracurriculars and other life events.

I love the way the passage of time is told through food and quick images between longer scenes. Overall I found the story heartwarming as all the characters found comfort in each other's friendship. :)

Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I really, really wanted to like this book because Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake was one of my favorite books of all time, but I uh, I didn't.

More details with spoilers below:

I really struggled to get through this book. I found Paris insufferable as a character and didn't particularly enjoy Tariq and his dynamic together.

The side characters were charming!!! The baking was fun!! But Paris' anxiety and absolute refusal to get help for the first 200 pages of the book made it n a not fun read. It felt like his doom sprial was repetative and just touching the same points over and over. I didn't like how he treated Tariq, and I didn't like how Tariq treated him.

The ending was better- after he had gotten diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and started getting help, but it was the last little bit of the book... I had honestly almost DNFed before getting there.

I'll still probably read the next book. I do find the side characters and the judges charming, and even though I disliked this book, the prequel was great, and I love the concept of this series.

Like You've Nothing Left to Prove by E.L. Massey

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emotional funny tense fast-paced